Fence-post



(No Model.) v

W.`L. RECK.

PBNGBPOST. i NoIv 575,374. Patented Jan. 19, 1897.

ilNrrnD Tarts WILLIAM L. BECK, OF GETTYSBURG, OHIO.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,374, dated J'anuary 19, 1897..

Application iledApril 4a 1896.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM L. BECK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Gettysburg, in the county of Darke and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Fence- Post, of which the following` is aspecification.

This invention relates to metallic fenceposts to be used in theconstruction of wire fencing, and has for its obj ect to secure a firmand positive anchorage for such posts and to prevent their loosening bythe action of frost or tension upon the fence-wires; also, to provide apost of the character aforesaid, which can be driven into the ground andat the same time compress the soil, so that considerable force must bebrought to bear in the event of it being required to extract the post bypulling thereon. t

Other objects and advantages will appear asthe nature of the inventionis unfolded, and to a full understanding thereof reference is to be hadto the following description and the accompanying drawings, in whichsimilar and corresponding parts are designated and referred to by thesame reference-characters.

Figure l is a front view of a fencepost constructed in accordance withthis invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is atransverse section about on the line X X of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a detailView of the anchoring-plate.

The post 1,which may be of any length and width, is constructed of astrip of sheet-steel, malleable iron, or other suitable metal of uniformwidth throughout its length, or practically so, and which is bent midwayof its longitudinal edges into a substantially V or angular form towithin a short distance of the lower end, which end is given a spiraltwist,

This twisted or spiral end portion 2 is Serial No. 586,240. (No model.)

tering openings y are drilled or otherwise formed in the wings of thepost at intervals in the length thereof to receive the fencewires, andslots a extend in opposite directions from the openings and lead throughthe edges of the post to admit of ingress and egress of the fence-wireswhen securing them to or removing them from the post. The inner endportions of the slots extend about parallel with the post, and theirouter ends curve or turn outwardly at an obtuse angle. By having theslots 4 oppositely disposed the fence-wires must be slackened in orderto place them in position or remove them from the openings 3. Henceafter the wires are in place and subjected to tension they can` not beremoved from the openings 3.

The anchoring-plate 5 has a pair of triangular-shaped lips 6, punched orcut therefrom and deected so as to embrace the opposite wings of thepost, and these lips have their pointed ends facing and their baseportions disposed so as to engage with the edges of the post atdiametrically opposite points. This anchoring-plate is slipped endwiseupon the post and is limited in its downward movement by engaging withthe upper part of the twisted or spiral end. After the post has beenproperly anchored the plate 5 is driven into the ground until its topedge is about flush therewith and serves to strengthen and preventlateral displacement of the post. The anchoring-plate, being ofsheet-steel or other metal and arranged with its width in a verticaldirection, can be readily driven into the ground ,since the resistanceto the edge thereof is very slight. Thus it will be seen that both thepost and the anchoringplate are embedded in theground without requiringany digging.

In addition to the advantage derived from the use of a crosssectionallyangular post in the attachment of the wires thereto, as set forthhereinbefore, an important advantage resides in the fact that saidconstruction provides for the attachment of the anchor-plate withfacility,'while the rotary movement of the post is prevented when theanchor-plate is in operative position. The triangular lips 6, whichengage the exterior surfaces of the upper cross-sectionally angularportion of the post, prevent the spiral or auger portion of IOO the postfrom being elevated with relation thereto, and it is obvious that thecontact of the plate with the earth is sufficient to prevent therotation of the plate with the post. Hence the anchor-plate forms anefficient securing device to prevent both rotary movement of the postand vertical movement of the postindependently of the plate. The lips 6preferably rest upon the upper extremity of the spirally-twisted orauger portion of the post, as shown in Fig. l.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- Thecombination of a fence-post having a cross-sectionally angular upperportion for the attachment of fence-runners and a spirally-twisted orauger-shaped lower portion for engagement with the soil, the upperextremity of the twisted portion being adapted to be arranged below thesurface of the soil, and a vertical anchor-plate having upstruekangularly-disposed lips adapted to engage and bear against the exteriorsurfaces of the crosssectionallyangular portion of the post below thesurface of the soil, and adapted to rest upon the upper extremity of thetwisted or auger portion, whereby both rotary and vertical movement ofthe post without the previous upward removal and disengagement of theanchor-plate are prevented, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

XVILLIAM L. HECK.

Vitnesses:

JOHN H. TRUMP, WM. Il. ESHLEMAN.

